from Amazon
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Athletes prevented from participating in high-risk activities
It’s one thing to ask a football player not to ride a motorcycle or a baseball player not to jet-ski, but to ask a hockey player not to… play hockey?
“Shocking but true. The NHL has sent out a memo that it will not honor NHL contract for a player injured at a summer Olympic training camp ...”
“As follow up, found out NHL teams directed to suspend and not pay any player injured in Summer Olympic Orientation camp ...”
“Team Canada exhibition game...what happens to seriously injured player? NHL benefits w/ Olympic participation and players bear all risk!”
The bold part is important. The idea of the Olympics is for the NHL to get exposure as a significant majority of the players playing will be from the NHL. The players are playing purely for the love of the game (plus the chance to get drug-tested to Olympic standards).
The NHL is asked to rearrange their schedule so that they still play 82 games, but shutdown in the middle of the season for two weeks. They have no other obligations. Big deal. But, they insist that this great benefit that they are getting is not worth covering the insurance for their players.
The players are therefore being asked to pay for their chance to compete. As the author of the piece suggests:
The NHL now feels that Olympic participation is a nuisance whose time has passed, and that the NHLPA is the driving force behind keeping its members involved in the international tournament.
Athletes are willing to pay the sport they love for nothing. Why saddle them with extra risk?
Eric Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes said recently, “I haven’t lived my life or played hockey thinking I’m going to get hurt or seriously injured.”
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